A 2021 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that, without action, the world will undergo 1.5ºC or more of warming by 2040. This is likely to lead to extreme heatwaves, oceans rising, and the destruction of an estimated 70% to 90% of the coral reefs.1
The Crisis is Now
Weather extremes are already evident. Over the past year, unprecedented heatwaves have affected the west coast of North America, while south-eastern Europe, in particular Greece and Italy, experienced its worst ever heatwave in August 2021.1 And, the UK has not been spared extreme temperatures (figure 1). In California’s Death Valley, which is known to be one of the hottest places on the planet, a temperature of 54.4ºC was recorded; the highest in the world since the 1930s.1
Yet despite extreme heatwave events, some parts of the world have experienced some of their coldest winters on record due to disruption of the Earth’s climate. Between April and September 2021, the average temperature in Antarctica was -60.9C, the coldest on record.2, 3
And in the UK, extreme rainfall in Britain is predicted to be 10 times more likely this century due to climate change (figure 2).4 October 3, 2020, was recorded as the wettest day in Britain since 1891. It resulted in rainfall across the country, which, in volume terms, was more than the capacity of Loch Ness.4
Figure 2: The river Severn threatens to break its banks near Telford during the 2020 Optometry Tomorrow conference
A major reservoir for greenhouse gases is provided by the Earth’s oceans. However, not only are increasing temperatures changing the nature of these ecosystems, it is also estimated that around 3% of global annual plastic waste enters the oceans each year.5 This may seem a small number. However, in 2010 alone, this figure represented approximately eight million tonnes.5
Marine animals, birds and humans are directly adversely affected by waste plastic, with over 100,000 marine animals confirmed as being killed by ocean plastic ingestion or entanglement each year,6 and approximately one million sea birds dying from the impact from plastic annually.6 Humans also ingest just under 20kg of plastic during their lifetime, typically in microplastic form.6
Sustainability in the Optical Industry
The latest climate science reports make it clear that action is needed this decade to help to manage climate change and the associated loss of species and natural habitats in future decades. This is a global challenge and, as was clear from the outcome of the COP26 climate conference that took place in Glasgow in November 2021, it is still a major challenge to get governments to agree on what to do and by when.
Occasionally, problems arise that may appear so daunting and insoluble that, far from inspiring people to action, trigger quite the reverse response and lead to submission and resignation. Sustainability and the need for stopping the changes which are occurring to the environment represent one such problem. Yet, against the constant stream of negative and sometimes disturbing news about climate change impact, there are some positives: innovative solutions are emerging alongside an increasing realisation that many small changes can make a large difference.
“Many small changes can make a large difference”
Innovative Schemes
Manufacturers are examining, in fine detail, the changes to everyday practice and activities that can be adopted to meet challenges such as reducing water and energy consumption, increasing recycling of materials and helping people to achieve a greener lifestyle.
Innovative schemes, such as CooperVision’s move to plastic neutral one-day* contact lenses, are opening the door to a more sustainable future. Plastic neutrality is achieved when an equal amount of plastic is removed from the environment as the amount that is newly introduced into the marketplace. It is established by purchasing credits from Plastic Bank. A credit represents the collection and conversion of 1kg of plastic that may otherwise reach or be destined for waterways. CooperVision purchases credits equal to the weight of plastic in its one-day contact lens orders in a specified time period. One-day contact lens plastic is determined by the weight of plastic in the blister, the lens and the secondary package (outer carton), including laminates, adhesives, and auxiliary inputs (for example, ink; figure 3). By selecting one-day plastic neutral CLs for patients, it is easy to make a difference with little effort.
Figure 3: One-day contact lens waste is determined by the weight of a number of materials including the plastic blister, the foil and the carton
Optical frame, ophthalmic lens and sunglass manufacturers are also taking steps towards a more sustainable future. Organisations, such as ABDO, have provided support for the optical sector via their SEE Hub7 (figure 4) where it is possible to download a sustainability self-assessment tool and view in-practice case studies.
Figure 4: The ABDO SEE Hub brings together ABDO’s work on social, ethical and environmental (SEE) topics. For resources, such as the sustainability self-assessment tool and help in working towards 100% sustainability, go to abdo.org.uk/dashboard/see-hub
At optometric conferences in recent years, sustainability is becoming a more widely considered subject. At last year’s CooperVision Virtual Perspectives event, optometrist Dr Sarah Smith (University of Manchester) delivered an insightful session looking at sustainability and the contact lens lifecycle and presented the findings of a study into contact lens waste. This can be viewed again via the CooperVision Learning Academy8 alongside support information for practice staff. See also a review of the subject in Optician 20.10.21.
We can all make individual contributions towards sustainability everyday in our workplaces. Consider takings actions already undertaken at home, such as careful product and equipment choice, switching off lights, recycling in staff and testing room areas (figure 5), reflecting on how printing may be avoided, and considering potential car share opportunities. It is usual to complete health and safety checks, so why not also undertake a sustainability check?
CL Choice For Sustainability
Considering CL choice, which wearing modality is better for the environment? This question is being asked with greater frequency by our patients and there are some myths and misconceptions that need to be addressed here.
To investigate this, Smith et al9 looked at the amount of waste created by one-day CLs compared to monthly replacement CLs (including the compliant use of lens care products), along with recycling options.
Using typical pack sizes available to consumers, the component parts of two representative soft CL replacement modalities, reusable-monthly replacement daily wear and one-day CLs, were catalogued, separated and weighed. The mass of solid waste for each modality (including packaging, individual plastics and foils) was calculated along with the suggested route for disposal and is summarised in table 1.
The products used were Clariti 1 day and Clariti elite, with a representative single bottle multipurpose solution with a flat lens case. Masses of components within the sample were recorded, and then the data were multiplied to calculate the annualised waste that full-time CL use could generate. It was also possible to create an additional model for CL waste generated by part-time CL wear.
The data indicated that full-time one-day CL wear generates 27% more dry waste annually than full-time reusable CL wear (1.06kg and 0.83kg respectively). However, one-day CL wear generates less waste than reusable lenses when CLs are worn one or two days per week (figure 6). Waste generated is similar if lenses are worn three days per week (455g for one-day lenses and 443g for reusable lenses).
Figure 6: Annualised waste based on days of wear per week
Although more waste is generated using one-day CLs when worn on a full-time basis, the overall amount is still small compared to the overall waste generated per person per annum. For context, waste from households in the UK, before recycling, amounted to 22.8 million tonnes in 2016, equivalent to 412kg per person. One-day CL waste when worn on a full-time basis equates to 0.25% of a person’s overall waste per year, the same amount of plastic as 25 bottles of water.
Further considerations within the study included the ability for CL material and packaging to be recycled. The researchers found that 100% of one day CL packaging can be recycled (where CL recycling schemes are available) compared to 81% of monthly disposable CL and packaging (figure 7).
Figure 7: Recyclability of daily and monthly replacement options
Smith et al concluded that the ‘total waste generated by an individual CL wearer is relatively low, and the proportion of lens waste generated by full-time wear accounts for only a tiny fraction of annual household waste. Annual waste generated by full-time daily disposable (DD) contact lens wear is not, in an environmental context, significantly different to reusable lens wear. DD lens wearers in the UK have access to recycling options that allow them to recycle 100% of waste.’9
Take Away Message
“Sustainability does matter a great deal, not just for now but for everyone’s future”
Sustainability does matter a great deal, not just for now but for everyone’s future. It does not need to be a negative subject though. Consider what can be done and how a positive change can make a difference, whether large scale from a manufacturer or just a small change in individual behaviour. It is time to make these changes now.
- Samantha Armstrong FBDO CL, FBCLA, PGCE is a contact lens optician and professional affairs consultant for CooperVision.
Acknowledgement
This article was supported by CooperVision.
References
- Masson-Delmotte et al. IPCC, 2018: Summary for Policymakers. In: Global Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 32 pp.
- State of Climate in 2021: Extreme events and major impacts. https//:State of Climate in 2021: Extreme events and major impacts, World Meteorological Organization (wmo.int)
- Chinchar A. Antarctica’s last six months were the coldest on record. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/09/weather/weather...
- Chestney N. Extreme rainfall in Britain to be 10 times more likely this century: Met Office. https//:Extreme rainfall in Britain to be 10 times more likely this century: Met Office/Reuters
- Jambeck JR et al. Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science, 2015, 347(6223),768-771.
- Morales-Caselles C et al. An inshore-offshore sorting system revealed from global classification of ocean litter. Nature Sustainability, 2021, 4(6), 484-493
- https://www.abdo.org.uk/dashboard/see-hub
- https://academy.coopervision.co.uk/uk
- Smith S, Orsborn G et al. An investigation into disposal and recycling options for daily disposable and monthly replacement so contact lens modalities. Contact Lens & Anterior Eye, 2021 Mar 12:101435